This fall Istanbul will be energised by the 17th edition of Contemporary Istanbul art fair, the 17th Istanbul Biennial, and the opening of the Istanbul Modern museum among other significant cultural events worth traveling for. The vibrant September art agenda reflects the city’s growing role as a global cultural powerhouse.
Contemporary Istanbul
Under the main partnership of Akbank, Contemporary Istanbul will bring together 60 contemporary art galleries from 25 countries, among them are some of the most influential galleries from Istanbul, including Dirimart, Nev İstanbul, Sanatorium, The Pill, Zilberman, Galerist, as well as leading galleries from Europe and the region, Leila Heller (New York, Dubai), Opera Gallery (Hong Kong, Dubai, Paris, New York, Miami) , JD Malat ( London), Berman Contemporary (Johannesburg), Bavan Gallery (Tehran) and number of galleries will participate for the first time 193 Gallery (Paris), Hestia (Belgrade) Wadström Tönnheim ( Marbella), Mucciaccio Contemporary (Rome), exhibiting more than 1,500 artworks by 600 artists.
An exciting public program will bring together the art world through a series of talks and panels. The Yard exhibition, which will be held at the Shipyard as part of Contemporary Istanbul, will feature 25 site-specific installations and sculptures by artists such as Canan Tolon, Isaac Chong Wai, Sergen Şehitoğlu and Renée Levi.
The Initiative Program, which plans to introduce the unique identities of contemporary art initiatives rising in different regions of Turkey and their dialogue with local audiences, will be hosted by our valuable fair partners and the Contemporary Istanbul Foundation. It is planned to be a platform where programs from Ankara, Antalya, Balıkesir, Diyarbakır, İstanbul, Izmir take place.
The fair will run from September 16-22, 2022, with a VIP preview taking place on September 16-18.
Istanbul Biennial
Curated by Ute Meta Bauer, Amar Kanwar, and David Teh, the 17th Istanbul Biennial will be open to the public from September 17 to November 20, with pre-opening held on September 13-16. In this time of uncertainty, the curatorial team sees an opportunity to recalibrate the priorities of a biennial, to reimagine its forms, the nature of participation, and the expectations of its public. This edition will exceed the normal duration of biennials, starting before and ending long after the usual eight-week season. The venues will include a historical hammam, an abandoned Greek School, an art space run by Syrian artists, an independent radio station, a calligraphy and bookbinding workshop, and a former gas house, newly renovated as a cultural center. Delayed by a year by the pandemic, the biennial is one of the most anticipated art events of 2022.
Istanbul Modern Museum
The new building of the Istanbul Modern museum, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, is finally completed and is scheduled to open soon. Istanbul Modern is Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art and a flagship cultural institution. While the opening date has not been announced yet, the event is expected to be one of the main cultural highlights of 2022.
Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum
Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum, designed by award-winning architect Emre Arolat, has been gradually opening its doors since December 2021. With more than 12,000 artworks in its collection and an area of approximately 18,000 sq meters, the museum offers a comprehensive picture of Turkish modern art. It is scheduled to be fully opened this September.
Contemporary Istanbul Foundation
Established in 2019, Contemporary Istanbul Foundation (CIF) contributes to the development of contemporary art and nurtures creative industries in Turkey. This summer the foundation is running an artist-in-residence program, organized in cooperation with Tosyali Holding. The residency focuses on the topic of upcycling and the artists are working with scrap metal materials provided by Tosyali Holding. The works produced by the artists will be exhibited at a special exhibition at Contemporary Istanbul and will continue to be exhibited in different venues both abroad and in Turkey.
Courtesy of Contemporary Istanbul